THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
crosses the track about forty times in a mile and a half, and here where the big 
gums grow these birds were numerous and every now and then they would 
dart down and dip into the water for a bath, then shake themselves partially 
dry and fly to some convenient twig and plume their feathers in the bright 
sunshine. I shot one for identification, and another bird, curious to know 
what was the matter with its mate, came hopping down on to the lowest 
branches of an overhanging tree, all the time twittering and making a harsh 
screeching note; tins called several more until there was almost a dozen 
peering at the dead bird; then they hopped down to the bird and began 
plucking at the feathers, all the time twittering and clattering as they attacked 
it. The time of breeding starts in September and ends in November or early 
in December.” 
From the East Murchison, Mid-west Australia, Whitlock noted : “ A 
very small colony on the big spinifex plain to west of Bore Well. I was 
greatly surprised to find them so far north and so far inland. They were 
extremely local, and I could make nothing out regarding their nesting. I 
shot several specimens for dissection, and none showed signs of immediate 
breeding. It is possible that they may have bred during the summer rains, 
or perhaps some time after I left Bore Well. On my return in mid-November 
I shot a fully-fledged nestling which was being fed by its parents. This was 
the only evidence of then* breeding I encountered.” 
In connection with the birds of the Flinders Ranges, Captain S. A. White 
has recorded : " Their flight w r as swift but irregular—a series of spasmodic 
darts,” and later added : “ Mr. Mathews has made this bird from the Flinders 
and Gawler Ranges a new subspecies. I agree with him. We met with these 
birds on many occasions in the ranges. They are very silent birds, and unlike 
many other members (I may say nearly all) of the genus in their quiet, silent 
and retiring habits. They seem sociable, and were often observed in parties 
of from eight to ten. They apparently keep to the ranges, never once were 
they seen in the malice or away from the hilly country.” 
Ashby lias noted from the Flinders Range : “ These were very numerous 
in and near the entrance of the Gorge, but when the upper part of the Gorge 
was reached and a higher altitude attained the species were replaced by 
P. penicillata rosince Mat.” 
G. F. Hill from the Kimberley District, North-west Australia, wrote : 
“ I shot two of these buds on 7/5/10 in the sandstone plateau country, 5 miles 
north-east of the station, which proved on examination to be males (type and 
co-type specimens of P . planasi Campbell). Subsequent visits were paid to t his 
locality without success, but in June, when passing through similar country 10 miles 
south-east of the station, I sav r many pairs, and one nest from which the young 
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